Lesotho’s Matekane rewards new coalition partner in extended cabinet

Lesotho’s Prime Minister Sam Matekane extended his cabinet with six new ministries and five deputy ministers.

• There are six new ministries and five deputy ministers in Lesotho’s extended coalition government.
• Basotho Action Party leader Professor Nqosa Mahao was rewarded with the energy ministry.
• Acting Chief Justice Tseliso Monaphathi swore in the new ministers at the Royal Palace in Maseru.

Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane, on Wednesday, rewarded new coalition partner Professor Nqosa Mahao with the energy ministry in an extended cabinet after the latter rescued Matekane from a vote of no confidence motion.

The cabinet has six new ministers benefitting from some ministries that have been unbundled.

Five deputy ministers are to be sworn in on a date yet to be announced.

Matekane posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Today (Wednesday), His Majesty King Letsie III’s cabinet witnessed the swearing-in of new ministers. Deputy Ministers will be sworn in in due course,” he said.

The ministers were sworn in by the Acting Chief Justice Tseliso Monaphathi at the Royal Palace in Maseru.

Mahao is the leader of the Basotho Action Party (BAP). BAP received 5.65% of the vote in last year’s general elections, representing six seats.

The deputy leader of BAP, Motlatsi Maqelepo, a former health minister under former prime minister Moeketsi Majoro, is the new tourism and culture minister.

Tseliso Mokhosi, a former defence minister, is back as the Minister of Labour and Employment.

Another new minister is Letsama Adontsi, who comes in as Minister of Environment and Forestry.

Mphuthi Mphuthi is the Minister of Public Service.

READ | Lesotho PM Matekane survives no-confidence vote after gaining new coalition partner

Besides the new ministers, the prime minister also reshuffled others. Richard Ramoeletsi became the Minister of Law and Justice.

Mokhethi Shelile is the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Small Business, but tourism was removed from his portfolio to accommodate Maqelepo.

When he came into power, Matekane reduced his cabinet from 37 to 16 ministries as he tried to run a tight and effective ship.

But a threat to his government has seen him add more to appease the new coalition partners.

Matekane also doubles up as the Minister of Defence and National Security. The environment portfolio has been removed from him and given to Adontsi as a ministry.

The deputy prime minister, Nthomeng Majara, will keep the parliamentary affairs portfolio after law and justice were given to Ramoeletsi.

For now, Mathibeli Mokhothu, the leader of the Democratic Congress’ move to unseat Matekane, seems to have hit a snag.

READ | Lesotho’s opposition coalition warns SADC of a potential coup

But it was not without a fight; he had secured 61 signatures from 11 opposition parties to push for a no-confidence vote.

While the courts delayed hearing an interdict by Matekane, events took over as the latter found a new coalition partner to push him back into a majority.

The security arms, which fall under Matekane’s ministry, played a part in keeping the opposition at bay.

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